Improvement in wagon-gearing and tongue-support



C. BAUMGAERTNER. Wagon-Gearing and Tongue Support.

No. 200,64L Patented Fb. 26,1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

CHRISTIAN BAUMGAERTNER, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WAGON-GEARING AND TONGUE-SUPPORT.-

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 200,641, datedFebruary 26, 1878 application filed November 6, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN BAUW- GAERTNER, of Rock Island, in thecounty of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Wagon-Gearing and Tongue-Support; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full and clear description of myinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is aperspective view; Fig. 2, a bottom plan, and Fig. 3 a longitudinalsection.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

My invention relates to the running-gear of vehicles; and it consists inthe construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully shownand described.

In the drawing, A represents the fifthwvheel, which is bolted to thecross B, made of wrought or malleable iron, or cast-steel, if preferred.The cross B consists, as shown, of four arms of equal size, set at rightangles to each other, and each of which is bent downward, terminating ina plate, as shown at b b b I). These plates are provided with suitablebolt-holes c, by means of which the two side plates b b are secured uponthe springs G G, the rear plate 1) upon the connectingspring H, andfront plate 1) upon the stirrup O, in which the tongue D is pivoted onbolt d. To the under side of stirrup O is secured a bolt, 0, for theattachment of a double-tree and that part of tongue D which rests in thestirrup is provided with iron plates f on its sides, to prevent wearagainst the sides of the stirrup.

E is abent steel spring, the upper bent portion of which is perforated,and held firmly against the under central part of cross B by a jam-nut,g, which fits over the screw-threaded tap of the king-bolt F. Spring Eis bent so as to pass under the axle, (shown at I, Fig. 1, in dottedlines,) and forward to the rear end of tongue D, where it terminates inan eye, k, which fits in between the projecting ends of plates ff, andis pivoted on a bolt, 7:, as shown. If preferred, spring E may becontinued some distance forward under the rear part of the tongue,bearing against its under side of its own tension, in which case bolt'2' may be dispensed with.

By this improvement, which is applicable to wagons or vehicles of anykind, the tongue is kept firmly in position while going up or down hill,or over rough and uneven ground, avoiding all undue strain upon theteam, and in no way interfering with the turning of the vehicle. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States The combination of the cross orcasting B, constructed as described, and fifth-wheel A, with theking-bolt F, bent spring E, jam-nut g, and pivoted tongue D,substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

CHRISTIAN BAUMGAERTNER.

Witnesses E. H. GLEASON, J. W. S. HORNE.

